I like what I see from the Phillies' young starting pitchers, but what do you think about the offense?
-- Brendan C., Harleysville, Pa.
Pat Gillick said a couple years ago that it might be at least 2018 before the Phillies are contenders again, and he might be right, based on the Phillies' offense.
There are players who are likely to be in that 2018 lineup based on their age, potential and current production, but do they have the next Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley or Ryan Howard? True, the Phillies had four infielders (Howard, Maikel Franco, Tommy Joseph and Freddy Galvis) hit 20-plus home runs in a season for the first time in franchise history, but there are also more home runs in baseball this year than at any point since 2000.